The long-running Nickelodeon show aired its first episode on May 1, 1999, and is currently in its 12th season. SpongeBob SquarePants follows the aquatic adventures of an ever-optimistic sea sponge and his pals who live under the Bikini Atoll. Its childlike sensibilities and wry humor made it the most widely distributed property in Viacom history, seen in more than 208 countries.

Hillenburg's background in marine biology, love of the sea and all its creatures led him to create the comic book, The Intertidal Zone, which he used to teach students at the Orange County Marine Institute in Dana Point, Calif. His love of drawing and animation soon led him to the MFA Program in Experimental Animation.

Since its inception, SpongeBob has spawned two feature films The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, which Hillenburg co-wrote and directed, and The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water. Last year, SpongeBob: The Musical opened on Broadway to great reviews and earned a dozen Tony Nominations.

Hillenburg is being remembered by fellow CalArtians, artists, animators and fans for his wit, humor and his memorable creations.

Here's what people are saying:

The world lost a brilliant voice, and CalArts lost one of its dear friends Monday, with the death of Stephen Hillenburg. His interest in tide pools and passion for painting merged at CalArts to fuel his most well-known creation, SpongeBob, who resides in the imaginations and hearts of millions worldwide. There is more joy, more camaraderie, and more laughter in the world because of SpongeBob, and for that we will always be eternally grateful to our brother Stephen.

I remember bright-eyed, younger me during my first week of school at Calarts in the Experimental Animation program thinking " Wow, I can't believe I'm in the same program Stephen Hillenburg went to! Maybe one day I can direct cool shows too!" pic.twitter.com/tjamWQhQbX

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24700 is CalArts' online space dedicated to sharing news and work of the larger CalArts community from around the world. The blog captures stories of the exploration of new forms and expressions in the arts by our students, faculty, staff and alumni.